Harness-saddle.



N. J. SUTTON. HARNESS SADDLE. APPLICATION mum JULY 28, 1909.

Patented May 21, 1912.

\NwQmXb/t M 76; My W NELSON J. SUTTON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

HARNESS-SADDLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 26, 1909.

Patented May 21, 1912. Serial No. 509,628.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NELSON J. SUTTON, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Harness-Saddles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention appertains to that type of harness-saddles in which the central yoke or tree has swivel-connection with the jockey or pad plates at either end thereof and in which the two back-bands or bearing-straps have hinge-connection at their upper ends to said pad-plates whereby the pads are adapted to ready and easy adjustment to the backs of the horses on which the harness is used and, also, whereby unequal bearing, chafing, rubbing and galling are reduced to a minlmum or altogether avoided.

The prime object of the invention herein is to provide a harness-saddle comprising a pair of corresponding hollow metal pads having ventilator-openings, corrugated reinforcing-strips within said pads, jockeyplates slidably attached to said pads and provided with upright bearings and a central coupling yoke or tree pivotally connected at its opposite ends to said upright bearings.

The details of the invention will be fully \hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation showing my device; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the metal pad portion of said device; and Fig. 3, a central diagrammatic section of said pad.

1 indicates a central metallic yoke or tree of the usual curved form, having the customary check-rein hook 2. The rein-terrets 4 are bolted directly to the said yoke and the latter has, at its opposite ends, pendent lugs 5 to which are pivotally-connected the jockey-plates 6 by means of transverse bolts that pass through said lugs 5 and upwardlyprojecting ears 8 provlded on the upper face of each jockey-plate.

9 is a plate attached to the underside of each j ockey-plate 6 and 9 is the usual leather side-skirting secured at its upper end between the plates 6 and 9 and hanging along the side of the horse beneath each of the two bearing-straps. 10 indicates, as a whole, each of the pads that are connected to said jockey-plates by means of said plates 9. These pads are hollow ones and composed of zinc, aluminum, galvanized iron, or like sheet-metal, the zinc being preferred for its healing qualities as well as to repel perspiration without tendency to rust or corrosion. Said pads are made hollow for the purpose of lightness and are each duly reinforced by means of a corrugated metallic strip 11 secured within by means of solder or the like applied at contacting-points 12 to the bottom of the pad. Ventilating-holes 13 are provided in the sides of the hollow, metal pads to obviate any internal sweating or collection of gases. These pads are each flat on their top faces and have a large opening, and are provided with a double-thickness flange or skirting 14 that forms a guideway and recess between its plies, for the fore and side edges of the respective plates 9 to engage in, such flange terminating on a line parallel to the straight, rear edge 15 of said opening and adapting thestraight, rear edge 16 of each of the plates 9 to be slid or moved forward and engaged between the double plies or thicknesses of said edge 15 for locking such plates 9 in place and preventing the pads becoming accidentally disengaged from the jockey-plates. The said termination of the flange or skirting 14 at 14" permits the ready separation of the up per thickness of the double edge 15 when it is desired to slide the rear edge 16 of the plate 9 in looking position within said double thickness. The top face of the pad slopes downwardly at its outer end 17 and thence slopes at 18 toward its flat bottom 19, and thence curves upwardly at 20 to the fore edge of the flat top, thus providing a shape or form that readily adapts itself to the various conformations in the backs of horses and renders the pad capable of interchangeable use. The pads are readily attached to and detached from the jockey-plates by simply sliding them to and from place over the fore and side edges of the thin, metal plates 9 that are riveted to said j ockey-plates, after releasing the rear locked edge 16 from engagement between the double edge 15.

21, 21 indicate extensions provided at the opposite ends of said tree, beyond the lugs 5 and adapted to receive the suspending pins or bolt-s of the bearing-straps 24.

It is obvious that a smooth-faced metalpad will present no irritatingsurface to the back of the horse, such as is present in the felt, leather, or other like soft cushions or pads, some of which are stuffed with curled hair or other similar sharp and pointed materials that irritate the back of the animal and keep it in a sore condition. Besides, with a felt or like pad, the perspiration from the animal is absorbed and becomes offensive and rots the pad, making it unfit for use in a short time. The metal pad will last as long as the harness itself does and its wear will be imperceptible, there being really no material rubbing or friction on the back of the animal owing to the swivel connection with the tree, which connection absorbs the movements of the pad in the side and other movements of the animal.

I claim:

A harness-saddle comprising a pair of cor responding hollow metal pads having ventilator-openings, corrugated reinforcingstrips Within said pads, jockey-plates slidably attached to said pads and provided with upright bearings and a central coupling yoke or tree pivotally connected at its opposite ends to said upright bearings.

NELSON J. SUTTON.

Witnesses:

J OHN H. BocKHoErER, JOHN ELIAS J ONES.

Copies of this patent. may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington. D. 0. 

